Tear gas gun



July 19, v1938. G. F. wlLDr-:s Er AL TEAR GAS GUN Filed Jan. 4, 1935 Sm@ N @am 11R .ll'ill EME,

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jaw- A TRNEY Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE TEAR GAS GUN Application January 4, 1935, Serial No. 414

7 Claims.

This invention relates to irearms of the type which are designed to project incapacitating substances such as tear gas and the like.

An object of this invention is the provision of 'a firearm of the type referred to above, the action of which may be used in combination police billies, maces, blackjacks, walking sticks, or the like, thus producing a dual purpose weapon.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ring mechanism or movement that is contained wholly within the contour of the grip or stock of the weapon and thus have no member projecting beyond the outline of such grip, or stock as may catch on clothing or any other obstructions thus insuring additional safety against accidental discharge and also eliminating the possibility of unnecessary wear on clothing if the weapon is carried on the person.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a firing mechanism or movement that is easy and quickly operated and Working always in one direction along the grip or stock as backward and forward.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a firearm embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on line IV--IV of Fig. l showing all working parts of the firing movement mechanism, the construction of the stock or grip and barrel; the barrel being shown as loaded with a shell or cartridge, and the ring movement or mechanism in a cocked position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the position of the firing pin after the cartridge has been exploded;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the firing pin and its actuator, the latter being in section;

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of a sear embodied in the ring movement or mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a View in section taken on the line II--II of Fig. 2;

- Fig. 7 is a View in perspective of a safety band or lock for the ring movement or mechanism;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the weapon;

Fig. 9 is a view in section taken on the line III- III of Fig. 2 showing safety band of Fig. 7 in off or open position;

Fig. 10 is a view in section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2 showing the safety band in safe, closed or locked position; and

Fig. 11 is a partial view in section taken on line IV-iV or' Fig. 1, showing the position of the firing pin at rest in an uncocked position and bearing against the primer of a shell or cartridge which has not been exploded.

Throughout the drawing and the specication, like reference characters indicate like parts. 5

In the drawing, a tear gas gun or firearm I is illustrated which is designed to serve the purpose of a combined firearm and policemans club. This device comprises a barrel 2 and a stock or grip 3 which are detachably connected together by means of a screwthreaded joint 4. The bore of the barrel is made to suit the particular gage or size of tear gas shell to be fired, a shell 5 being shown in place in the barrel. The stock or grip 3 contains the firing mechanism or movement for tiring or exploding the tear gas shell or cartridge. The firing mechanism or movement is housed in a cylindrical bore in the grip or stock 3 which bore for convenience of manufacture and of assembling or dismantling the ring mechanism, is made uniform in diameter from end to end thereof.

The firing mechanism includes a firing pin 'B which is formed either as a detachable or as an integral part of a cylindrical plunger 'I which is slidably mounted fore and aft in cylindrical guideways 8 and 9, respectively, disposed within the cylindrical bore of the stock or grip 3. The forward guideway 8 is formed by a sleeve Ill which is made as an integral part of a breech block Il SU which is screwthreaded into the forward end of the bore of stock 3. The foremost end of the breech block is formed with a flange I2 which, when the block is screwed up tight, bears against the foremost end of the stock. At the center of the breech block a small hole I3 is formed through which firing pin 6 passes when the firing mechanism is actuated or fired, and impinges on the primer of shell 5 (see Fig. 3). Sleeve I0 in addition to slidably supporting the forward end of the firing pin plunger 'I also coacts with and forms part of the firing mechanism as will be disclosed later herein.

Cylindrical guideway 9 is formed in a sleeve I 5 which is inserted into the stock from the rear end thereof. This sleeve is provided with an enlarged portion I6 that snugly ts the bore of the stock and which also serves as an abutment for a cap or plug II, a portion I8 of which is screwthreaded into the rear end of stock 3. Sleeve 9 also houses a main spring I9 that actuates the firing pin to firing position. The forward end of this spring embraces a plug 20 formed as an integral part of the rear end of ring pin plunger 'I and which is of smaller diameter than the plunger.

'Ihe rear end of bushing l5 is anged inwardly as indicated at 22, to provide a bearing at the rear end of main spring I9.

Further details of the ring movement will be seen by reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5. As may be seen in Fig. 4, firing pin plunger 'l is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 23 intol which is placed a sear 24 which holds the firing pin and its plunger in cocked position, see Fig. 2, and which trips the same to firing position when the gun is red, see Fig, 3. The sear comprises a relatively long member which is flat on the bottom and provided with a surface 26 on its top which slopes downwardly from the rear end towards the forward end so as to provide clearance necessary in its operating movements. At the forward end the sear is provided with an upwardly sloping cam surface 21 which terminates in a downwardly sloping cam surface 23 that coacts with the upper rear edge of sleeve or bushing l0, as at 29. The sear is held in the slot 23 by means of a sleeve-like actuator 3l] which is slidably mounted on and embraces the plunger l. The sear is retained against longitudinal displacement by means of a pin 3| which is disposed in a recess 32 at the forward end of the plunger and a through pin 33 which is pressed through an opening 34 formed near the rear end of slot 23.

The forward end of the sear is yieldingly urged upwardly by a spring 35 disposed in a socket 36 formed in the bottom of slot 23. The spacing of pins 3l and 33 is such that the sear may move freely vertically in slot 23 but so that it cannot move appreciably longitudinally of this slot.

The actuator 3U may be operated by a thumb piece 3l which is sli'dably disposed in a longitudinally extending opening 38 formed in the top of the stock. In order to provide for rmly gripping this thumb piece the surface of the stock surrounding opening 38 is scooped out as indicated at lill. As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the top of the thumb piece is substantially flush with the contour of the stock, so that there will be no parts projecting ousi-de of the general contour of the firearm which would interfere with the carrying of the same in the pockets or clothing of an ocer, for example.

As may be seen in the drawing, the thumb piece is rectangular as viewed from the top and is substantially as wide as opening 38 so that this opening and thumb piece act as a gui-de to prevent turning of the actuator.

In order to protect the ring mechanism from dirt and dust, a cover plate 42 is interposed between the thumb piece 31 and actuator 30. The thumb piece, actuator and plate may be secured together by means of a-screw` 43. Plate 2 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is arcuate transversely so as to conform to the surface of the bore in stock 3, is materially wider and longer than opening 33 and is spaced from the rin'g pin plunger l, sleeves IUI' and l5, and s-ear 26, see Figs. 6, 9, and l0.

In order to prevent accidental firing of the gun when the firing pin is in cocked position, a safety ring is provided. This ring, as shown in Fig. '7, is discontinuous in order that it may be sprung over stock 3 and into a relatively wide groove 136. This ring is provided with a slot 4l through which a pin 48 which is anchored in the stock extends to limit the turning movement of the ring around the stock. When the ring is turned to such a position such as indicated in Fig. 9, the thumb piece 31 may be actuated to the position shown in Fig. 2, which is the cooking position.

When the thumb piece has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 it may either be red from this position or it may be locked against ring by turning ring 45 to the position shown in Fig. 10, in which position forward travel of the thumb piece is blocked, as is also the forward travel of the nring pin because pin 33 is directly behind actuator 33.

The operation of the firearm is as follows:

yStarting with the firing movement or mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 3 the stock is gripped with the thumb on the thumb piece. The thumb piece is pulled rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2. When moving to this position the actuator 30 bears against pin 33 which causes the ring pin and its plunger to be retracted and to compress main spring IS. As the plunger moves rearwardly the forward end of sear 24 is actuated partially out of slot 23 the moment the forward end of the sear passes the rear end of sleeve i9, being actuated to this position by spring 35. The sear is now in position to abut the end of sleeve l0' at 29 so that when the thumb piece is slightly released the ring pin and its plunger move forwardly until the sear abuts the end of sleeve lll at which time further forward movement is stopped.

To fire the mechanism the thumb piece is moved forwardly and since actuator 30 is slidable on plunger l actuator 3E) will move forwardly with the thumb piece until it engages cam surface 2l of sear 2d. By continuing the forward movement of actuator 30 the forward end of the sear is depressed until it slips under the end of sleeve IU at which time the firing pin and its plunger are tripped and propelled forwardly by the main spring to ring position.

It will be noted that when the ring mechanisrn is in cocked position pin 33 bears against the rear end of sear 24 so that the firing pin 6 and its plunger l cannot move forwardly. This allows for the movement of actuator 30 to the position in which the firing mechanism is tripped while at the same time holding the firing mechanism in cocked position.

When a shell has been fired, barrel 2 is unscrewed from the stock, the exploded shell ejected and a new shell is inserted. After inserting the shell the barrel is screwed onto the stock and as the barrel is screwed to position the primer.

of the shell bears against the point of ring pin 5 and pushes the pin and plunger 'l rearwardly a relatively short distance D. The slight force required to move the ring pin this small distance is so light and insignificant that there is no danger of the pin puncturing the primer or of exploding the shell. v

When the ring pin and its plunger have been tripped, it will be noted just at the point of tripping the downwardly sloping face 28 of the sear is in position to engage the inner edge of sleeve Ill. Thus, the sear at the moment of tripping has slightly entered the interior of sleeve l0 and will allow free and rapid movement of plunger 'i the moment the inner edge of this sleeve passes over apex 50 formed by surfaces 27 and 28 of the sear. While the forward end of the sear is moving within sleeve il] only apex 50 slidingly engages the inner surface thereof so that a minimum of frictional resistance is occasioned by this contact. It will also be noted that the downwardly sloping face of the sear allows the sear to move to the position shown in Fig. 2 without 75 being obstructed by the inner forward edge of actuator 30.

From the above description it will be apparent that the firearm herein disclosed is easily taken apart and put together, embodies a simple firing mechanism which may be easily taken apart for inspection, oiling or repairs, and put together again. By removing the stock from the barrel and detaching from the piece 31 the entire firing mechanism may be easily and quickly removed from the stock by merely screwing the breech block Il and the cap Il out of the same after which the firing pin 6 and its plunger l, the actuator 30, and bushing i5 may be removed from either end of the stock.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to Vsecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tear gas gun, a tubular grip or stock having an elongated slot in a wall thereof and adapted to be removably attached to a barrel and provided at its forward end with a breech block having an aperture therein, a sleeve behind the breech block, a firing pin disposed for movement through said aperture, a plunger having its forward end slidably disposed in said sleeve for actuating the firing pin, an actuating spring in said grip which is compressed when the plunger is retracted, a sear yieldingly mounted in said plunger and normally disposed within said sleeve and adapted to engage the end of said sleeve and hold the plunger in cocked position when the plunger is retracted thereto, an actuating means in said grip and operable through said slot for retracting the plunger and releasing the sear to fire the gun.

2. In a tear gas gun according to claim l, characterized by the fact that the plunger is of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular grip and that the sleeve is integral with the breech block.

3. In a tear gas gun according to claim l, characterized by the fact that the plunger .is provided with a longitudinal groove and that the sear comprises an elongated member which .is positioned in the slot and provided with stops at its opposite ends to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and provided with a yieldable member at its forward end which urges said end outwardly to engage the end of the sleeve when the plunger is retracted to cooked position.

4. In a tear gas gun according to claim l, characterized by the fact that the rear end of the grip is provided with a sleeve which slidably supports the rear end of the plunger, and that the actuating means comprises a ring slidably mounted on the plunger, a thumb piece secured to said ring and projecting outwardly through said slot for moving said ring along the plunger, there being means on the plunger engageable by said ring as it is moved rearwardly to retract the plunger to cocked position, said ring when moved forwardly on said plunger depressing the Sear and disengaging it from the sleeve disposed behind the breech block.

5. A grip and firing movement for tear gas guns of the policemans club type, comprising a tubular member having an elongated slot in a wall thereof and a plunger therein of smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the tubular member, a firing pin at the forward end of the plunger, sleeves within said tubular member for supporting the plunger fore and aft for sliding movement to cocked and firing positions, said plunger having an elongated groove therein, an elongated sear in said groove, stops at the ends of the sear, a spring in said groove urging the forward end of said sear out of the slot, a ring slidably mounted on the plunger between said stops and holding the sear in operative position in the groove, a spring behind the plunger, and a thumb piece secured to said ring and projecting through said slot, said thumb piece when retracted moving the ring against one of said stops to retract the plunger to a position in which the forward end of the sear engages the rear end of the sleeve at the forward end of the grip and holds the plunger in cocked position, and when moved forwardly the ring depresses the sear and releases the plunger under the action of the spring to ring position.

6. A grip and firing movement according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the plunger and sear are rotatable as a unit about the longitudinal axis of the plunger.

7. A grip and firing movement according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the for ward end of the grip is provided with a breech block and that the sleeve at said forward end is made as an integral part of said block.

GEORGE F. WILDES. CHESTER C. GASPARIN. 

